UMass Amherst vs GW for D.C. opportunities: which is better for internships and networking?

GW has the clear edge for D.C. internships and networking during the school year. Its location in Foggy Bottom puts students within walking distance or a short Metro ride from federal agencies, nonprofits, think tanks, advocacy groups, and political offices, which makes part-time internships and last-minute networking events much easier to fit around classes.

At GW, students can realistically intern during fall and spring without needing to take a semester away or rely on summer only. That is especially valuable in fields like politics, international affairs, public policy, media, and government-adjacent work, where being able to attend panels, coffee chats, embassy events, and employer information sessions on a Tuesday afternoon can lead to connections that are hard to replicate from farther away.

UMass Amherst can still get students to D.C. opportunities, but it usually takes more planning and is less embedded in the academic year. Students often rely more heavily on summer internships, occasional trek programs, alumni outreach, or semester programs away from campus rather than casually building a D.C. network week by week. The distance does not make internships impossible, but it does make them less immediate and less convenient.

Networking also works differently at the two schools. GW benefits from having alumni and employers nearby who regularly engage with campus, speak at events, and recruit students who can start quickly. UMass has a large alumni network and strong outcomes in many fields, but for specifically Washington-based relationship building during the school year, GW’s physical proximity gives it a much more direct pipeline.